Targeted sidebar advertising

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for providing an advertisement in a sidebar, and/or in a slidesheet associated with an application module displayed in the sidebar. The advertisement is targeted to the sidebar user based upon user specific information maintained by a content provider. The user specific information can comprise, sidebar application information, user preference information, shared user information and other information associated with the user that can be used to select an advertisement targeted to the user. An advertisement displayed in a slidesheet can be selected based upon user information and/or the functionality provided by the application module associated with the slidesheet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims the benefit of application Ser. No.______, filed Jan. 4, 2006, entitled NETWORK USER DATABASE FOR ASIDEBAR, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure is directed to computers and computer applications and,more particularly, to methods and systems of providing advertisementsand/or other information through a software tool that acts as anapplication aggregator for access to existing applications and that alsoadds additional features and functions, which in one embodiment, can bepresented as a sidebar, the sidebar comprises a plurality ofapplications, such as, for example, Internet services and other computerapplications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many Internet content providers, such as, for example, Yahoo!, Inc. ofSunnyvale, Calif., offer a large number of Internet services, such as,for example, searching, email, news, photo sharing, maps, finance,weather, calendars, address books, instant messaging and a plurality ofother services. In order to offer these services to a user in acentralized manner, Internet content providers have created softwareprograms that act as application aggregators that can be displayed on auser's desktop or as part of a browser. Such applications have come tobe called sidebars because in many instances the user interface isdisplayed on one side of user's display Examples are the Google Sidebar,an application supplied by Google Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. and theYahoo! Sidebar supplied by Yahoo!, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. The sidebartypically comprises a plurality of visibly distinct regions or modules,typically grouped in a vertical stack, each module comprising orrepresenting a different application or function. The applications areidentified by a titlebar, the titlebar further comprising controls forinitiating additional functionality, such as, for example, initiating aslidesheet, or calling a menu. A slidesheet is a window that appears toslide out of the sidebar and can comprise additional information relatedto the selected application or function.

In addition to offering services some Internet content providers alsoallow users to create Internet accounts with the content provider. Theuser account allows the content provider to maintain a user database(UDB) for the user. The UDB comprises personal information, applicationpreferences and other application information that can be accessed andshared by the content provider's various services. Present sidebars donot fully utilize the potential of the UDB, however.

Sidebars are helpful to both an Internet user and an Internet contentprovider. The Internet user can use the sidebar to quickly and easilyaccess their web services and the Internet content provider can use thesidebar to introduce users to new services and various types of newmedia.

Accordingly, there is a desire for novel implementations of the sidebar,which improve usability and customizability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention as described and claimed herein satisfies this and otherneeds, which will be apparent from the teachings herein.

In one embodiment, a user database server is maintained by the sidebarprovider.

In one embodiment, a sidebar displays targeted advertising in a sidebarand in the slidesheets of a sidebar. The advertisements can be targetedto the user based on user specific information and/or other informationabout the user.

In one embodiment, the targeted advertisement is related to a term mostsearched by the user. The user's search statistics can be gatheredthrough the sidebar , a browser, or other search applications. In oneembodiment the advertisement can be associated with a retailer websitethat the user frequently visits. In one embodiment, the advertisementcan be for accessories for a product recently purchased by the user. Inone embodiment, the advertisement can be associated with interests thatthe user previously selected in a profile built by the user, or throughexplicit preference selections made by a user during interaction withother services, for example, music or shopping services, or derived bythe service provider through observed behavior of the user as the userinteracts with the provider's services or other Internet or usercomputer activities. Thus, for example, by utilizing user preferenceinformation obtained through a user's interactions with a music serviceof the content provider, the content provider can offer personalizedadvertisements. For example, if a user has indicated a preference formetal music, this information can be used to generate an ad thatfeatures a new metal CD, concert, or other metal products. Similarly,shopping preferences can be obtained through product ratings orpreferences indicated by a user interacting with a shopping service ofthe content provider. In one embodiment, the sidebar can perform akeyword search on documents, currently open on the computer, currentlybeing viewed by the user, and/or frequently or recently accessed by theuser, and display advertisements associated with any matched keywords.

In addition to targeted advertisements in the main sidebar, targetedadvertisements can also be included in the sidebar's slidesheets. Theslidesheet advertisements can be associated with the type of applicationmodule that it is displayed in. In addition, if a user is signed intothe sidebar, the slidesheet advertisement can be associated with theapplication module type selected, so that, for example, when the userselects the photo related application module in the sidebar, thetargeted ad can be photo related, such as, for example, a camera ad oran ad for a photo editing program.

In one embodiment, a browser independent sidebar, associated with acontent provider, comprises an application module, displayed in thesidebar, through which a user can access functions associated with theapplication module, the application module being selected from aplurality of possible application modules, wherein the sidebar displaysthe application module based on sidebar application information; andcomputer code, the computer code being operable to execute an operationthat retrieves the sidebar application information from a location on anetwork.

In one embodiment, the sidebar application information is part of userspecific information maintained by the content provider, the userspecific information comprising additional information related to theuser.

In one embodiment, the sidebar application information comprisesinstructions to display an application module in the sidebar, thedisplayed application module being selected by the content providerbased on user specific information.

In one embodiment, the user specific information comprises informationrelated to the user's usage of other content provider services.

In one embodiment, the user specific information comprises userpreference information.

In one embodiment, the sidebar application information comprisesinstructions to display an application module in the sidebar, thedisplayed application module being selected by the content providerbased upon content provider's preferences.

In one embodiment, the sidebar application information comprises anapplication module functionality, an application module display stateand dimensional information that defines a dimension of the applicationmodule.

In one embodiment, the sidebar application information further comprisesa desktop position.

In one embodiment, the computer code is further operable to execute anoperation that retrieves application module preference information.

In one embodiment, the sidebar application information is retrieved atthe same time as the application module preference information.

In one embodiment, the application module comprises module computer codethe module computer code being operable to execute an operation thatretrieves application module preference information.

In one embodiment, the sidebar further comprises a second applicationmodule, the application modules being positioned in a vertical stack.

In one embodiment, a functionality of the application module is anInternet address book. In one embodiment, a functionality of theapplication module is an instant messaging service. In one embodiment, afunctionality of the application module is an email service. In oneembodiment, a functionality of the application module is a photoservice.

In one embodiment, the sidebar further comprises additional computercode, the additional computer code being operable to retrieveapplication module information associated with a function of theapplication module.

In one embodiment, the retrieved application module information isshared user information.

In one embodiment, the application module information is retrieved fromthe same location as the sidebar application information.

In one embodiment, the application module further comprises a slidesheetassociated with the application module, said slidesheet comprisingfurther application module functionality.

In one embodiment, a slidesheet further comprises a field through whichthe sidebar can accept edits to a user's user specific information.

In one embodiment, the sidebar further comprises edit computer code, theedit computer code being operable to execute an operation to transmitedited application module information to the content provider.

In one embodiment, the sidebar further comprises update computer code,the update computer code being operable to periodically execute anoperation which requests updated application module information for anapplication module.

In one embodiment, the update computer code is further executable toperiodically poll the content provider for updated application moduleinformation.

In one embodiment, the sidebar further comprises alert computer code,the alert computer code being operable to execute an operation toreceive an alert when application module information is updated throughanother program.

In one embodiment, the computer code is further executable to retrievethe updated application module information in response to receiving analert.

In one embodiment, the alert comprises the updated application moduleinformation.

In one embodiment, the application module comprises a whole number ofitems.

In one embodiment, the dimensional information is associated with thenumber of whole items in the application module.

In one embodiment, the user specific information is associated with theuser's network user name and password.

In one embodiment, the sidebar further comprises caching computer code,the caching computer code being operable to execute an operation forcaching the sidebar application information.

In one embodiment, a browser independent sidebar obtainable from acontent provider, comprises an application module displayed in thesidebar through which a user can access functions associated with theapplication module, the application module being selected from aplurality of possible application modules, the sidebar displaying theapplication module based upon information, the information comprisinguser specific information; and computer code, the computer code beingoperable to execute an operation that retrieves said user specificinformation from a content provider location on a network.

In one embodiment, the user specific information comprises sidebarapplication information.

In one embodiment, the user specific information further comprisesapplication module preference information.

In one embodiment, the user specific information further comprises userpreference information.

In one embodiment, the user specific information further comprisesshared user information.

In one embodiment, a sidebar, obtainable from a content provideroffering other plural services to a user, comprises a module displayedin the sidebar, the module being selected from a plurality of possiblemodules, the sidebar displaying the module based in part on sidebarapplication information and user specific preference informationmaintained by said content provider in connection with said user andrelated to said user's interactions with one or more of said otherplural services of said content provider; and computer code, thecomputer code being operable to execute an operation that retrieves saidsidebar application information and said user specific preferenceinformation from a content provider location on a network.

In one embodiment, the user specific preference information is obtainedby the content provider from the user based upon explicit preferenceindications made by the user during interactions with one or more of theother plural services.

In one embodiment, the explicit preference indication is a musicpreference indication made during interaction with a music service ofthe content provider.

In one embodiment, the explicit preference indication is a productpreference indication made during interaction with a shopping service ofthe content provider.

In one embodiment, the explicit preference indication is based upon arecently used search term entered by said user during interaction with asearch service of the content provider.

In one embodiment, the user specific preference information is obtainedby the content provider based upon implicit preference indicationsderived utilizing data collected by the content provider related to theuser's activities during interactions with one or more of the otherplural services.

In one embodiment, the module displayed is selected by said contentprovider based upon information comprising the user specific preferenceinformation.

In one embodiment, the user specific preference information furthercomprises information related to said user's interactions with saidsidebar.

In one embodiment, the selected module comprises an advertisement.

In one embodiment, the module comprises module functions available tothe user, and wherein the functions are made available to the user basedin part upon the user specific preference information.

In one embodiment, a method of populating a browser independent sidebarassociated with a content provider comprises, requesting sidebarapplication information from a location on a network, the sidebarapplication information comprising information used to build a graphicaluser interface for the browser independent sidebar, wherein the sidebarapplication information informs the sidebar to display an applicationmodule, through which a user can access functions associated with theapplication module, the application module being selected from aplurality of possible application modules; receiving the sidebarapplication information; and using the sidebar application informationto build a graphical user interface for the sidebar.

In one embodiment, the content provider selects the application moduleto display in the sidebar based on information, the informationcomprising user specific information.

In one embodiment, the user specific information comprises sidebarapplication information.

In one embodiment, the user specific information further comprisesapplication module preference information.

In one embodiment, the user specific information further comprises userpreference information.

In one embodiment, the user specific information further comprisesshared user information.

In one embodiment, the populating method further comprises requestingapplication module information for the application module of thesidebar; receiving the application module information; and loading theapplication module information into the application module.

In one embodiment, the populating method further comprises requestingupdated application module information for an application module.

In one embodiment, the populating method further comprises receiving analert of updated application module information from another source.

In one embodiment, the populating method further comprises obtaining auser name and a password associated with a user.

In one embodiment, the populating method further comprises caching thereceived sidebar application information.

In one embodiment, the populating method further comprises receivingedited user specific information from a user; and transmitting theedited user specific information to the content provider.

In one embodiment, a system for providing a browser independent sidebarcomprises a user computer communication application, coupled to anetwork, the communication application being operable to request sidebarapplication information, the sidebar application information comprisinginformation used to build a graphical user interface for the browserindependent sidebar, wherein the sidebar application information informsthe sidebar to display an application module, through which a user canaccess functions associated with the application module, the applicationmodule being selected from a plurality of possible application modules;and a user database server, coupled to the network, the user databaseserver having stored thereon user specific information as part of a userdatabase, wherein the user specific information comprises the sidebarapplication information.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises an application moduleserver from which the user computer can request application moduleinformation.

In one embodiment, the sidebar application information is created by thecontent provider based on information, the information comprising userspecific information.

Some application modules comprise a list of items, while otherapplication modules do not display items. For example, an emailapplication module comprises items while a photo slideshow that resizesimages based on the size of the application module display area, doesnot. In known sidebars, the number of items in an application moduledisplay area is not discrete. For example, in an email applicationmodule the last email item in the list can be truncated or onlypartially displayed. In one embodiment, application modules thatcomprise items are forced to comprise a whole number of menu items.Thus, when a user resizes an application module, the application modulewill “snap” to fully include or fully exclude an item as opposed todisplaying a partial item. A whole item display format can also beimplemented in an application module's slidesheet.

In one embodiment, email functions, such as, for example, reply, replyto all, forward, delete, mark as unread, and mark as spam can beaccessed by a user through the sidebar. In one embodiment, the emailretrieval protocol used by the sidebar is augmented to carry a secondemail identifier used by another email system. Thus, the sidebar canreceive the second email identifier through the email retrievalprotocol. Once the sidebar has the second email identifier, it caninteract with systems that use the second email identifier, such as, forexample, a spam control system.

The Internet allows people to connect and share thoughts in a number ofdifferent ways. For example, social networking communities allow usersto add friends to their network, and thereby connected to many otherpeople through their friends' friends. Social networking websites allowtheir users to post blogs, photos, blasts, and other media that a userwants to share with their group of friends, such as Yahoo! 360, offeredby Yahoo! Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. Another example of a communitynetwork is an online photo sharing website. Photos are assigned tags andposted to a user's photo site. Other users can search for photos byuser, group or tag. They can also comment on the photo. Yet anotherexample of a community network is a review network. People know theirfriends tastes, so they can trust a friend's review more than anotherperson's review. Many of these community networks provide email updateswhen a user's friend makes a new post. Vitality is an application modulethat, in one embodiment, seeks out updates to a user's communitynetworks and lists them in a sidebar. Thus, the user can stay currentwith all their community networks without having to visit a number ofdifferent websites.

In one embodiment, a vitality module of a sidebar can work with a user'semail alerts. For example, the vitality module can initiate a search forupdated information in all of a user's community networks when an alertemail is received from any one of the user's community networks. In oneembodiment, the vitality module periodically polls the user's communitynetworks for updated information. In one embodiment, the vitality modulecan receive an alert indicating that a user's community network has beenupdated. The alert can come from a general alert server, which managesall updates to a user's Internet services, and/or the alert can comefrom an alert application module in another application. The alert isnot limited to an email, in one embodiment the alert can be a messagefrom an alert server and/or from another application. In one embodiment,the alert also comprises the updated information.

In one embodiment, the vitality module only displays communityinformation and only receives alerts from services offered by the samecompany that offers the sidebar, in order to promote the sidebarprovider's services. In other embodiments, the sidebar can retrieveinformation and receive alerts from the sidebar provider's communitysites and/or other content provider community sites by scraping, or byusing the user's login and password for the specific site to collectupdated information on behalf of the user. In one embodiment, emailsreceived from third party community sites can be interpreted by thesidebar , and added to the vitality module. If the email comprises a URLthat points to the updated information, the URL can be used by thesidebar to retrieve and display the updated information as part of avitality slidesheet.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, considering in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing figures. It is understood however, that thedrawings are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not asa definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The drawing figures are not to scale, are merely illustrative, and likereference numerals depict like elements throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 illustrates a desktop comprising a sidebar implemented accordingto one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sign in slidesheet implemented according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an instant message application module in a sidebarimplemented according to one embodiment of the invention displaying afull open state.

FIG. 4 illustrates an instant message application module in a sidebarimplemented according to one embodiment of the invention displaying apreferred open state.

FIG. 5 illustrates an email application module in a sidebar implementedaccording to one embodiment of the invention displaying a preferred openstate.

FIG. 6 illustrates an editable slidesheet implemented according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a targeted advertisement in a sidebar and a targetedadvertisement in a slidesheet implemented according to one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates application modules implemented according to oneembodiment of the invention, the application modules comprising a wholenumber of items.

FIG. 9 illustrates an email application module implemented according toone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an email “compose” slidesheet implemented accordingto one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a community activity updating application moduleimplemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a photo application module implemented according toone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a slidesheet comprising easily accessible sharingbuttons displayed on the same slidesheet as shareable media.

FIG. 14 illustrates a system implemented according to one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a sidebar-building method implemented according toone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method for displaying an application module in asidebar based on a display state of the application module.

FIG. 17 illustrates an application module information updating methodimplemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a targeted advertisement selection methodimplemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a method for displaying a whole number of items inapplication modules of a sidebar.

FIG. 20 illustrates an email application implemented according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates a community activity updating applicationimplemented according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates a photo displaying method implemented according toone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a photo sharing method implemented according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a method for displaying sharing buttons with ashareable media implemented according to one embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

There will now be shown and described in connection with the attacheddrawing figures several embodiments of a sidebar and methods forproviding the same.

The term Internet as used herein, unless otherwise specified expresslyor by context, is intended to have a broad non-limiting definition, andrefers, without limitation, to a global computer network and/or anyother group or subgroup of computers or other computing devicescommunicatively coupled together.

The term sidebar as used herein unless otherwise specified expressly orby context, is intended to have a broad non-limiting definition, andrefers, without limitation, to a software program that can be displayedto a user in a plurality of different states, and appears as, forexample, a vertical stack, as a floating toolbar, a deskbar, a systemtray icon and other forms, and that serves as a browser-independentresource through which a user can interact with sidebar specificapplications and/or other application programs accessible on the user'scomputing device and/or the Internet, the sidebar offering features andfunctions complimentary to, the same as, or in addition to those foundin the other application programs.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sidebar 105, implemented according to oneembodiment of the invention. The sidebar 105 comprises a titlebar 110and a plurality of application modules 115, 120, 125, 140, 160, 165,170, 175 displayed in a vertical stack. An application module, as usedherein, is a software application module, component or portion thereof,that implements a described feature or function of the sidebar. Theapplication modules load with application specific information and eachapplication module can preferably automatically update in a manner knownin the art. In one embodiment, the sidebar 105 can also automaticallyreceive updates. The sidebar 105 is a stand alone application that isnot tied to a browser. The titlebar 110 comprises a title for thesidebar, a control 106 to minimize the sidebar 105, and a control 107 toclose the sidebar.

Below the titlebar 110 is a search application module 115. A user canuse the search application module 115 to perform searches on theInternet and/or on the user's computer. In one embodiment (not shown),when the user starts to type in the search field, a slidesheet, which isan extended user interface portion that appears to slide out from onevertical side of the sidebar, appears comprising search results. In oneembodiment, computer searches will automatically update with each newletter added to the search field, and a web search is presented when theuser selects the “go” button. In one embodiment, the search applicationmodule 115 is a permanent module of the sidebar, which cannot be removedby a user. In one embodiment, more specific searches, such as, forexample, shopping, images, video and other topics can also be initiatedthrough the slidesheet.

Sidebar 105 preferably also comprises a welcome module 120 or othersign-in area under the search module 115. Some Internet contentproviders maintain a user database (UDB) that comprises a user'spersonal information, application settings, and other information. Userinformation stored in a UDB can generally be accessed by and preferablybe used to personalize some or all of that Internet content provider'sservices. In addition, the UDB can store a user's sidebar preferences.In one embodiment, a sidebar 105 uses a usemame and password to access auser's sidebar preferences from a UDB. In one embodiment, a copy of theuser's sidebar preferences is stored on the user's computer, and can beretrieved from the computer, for example, in “off-line” situations,where an Internet connection is not available. In one embodiment, auser's sidebar preferences comprise the types of application modulesthat appear in the sidebar 105, display states for the applicationmodules and dimensional information for a display area of an applicationmodule. For example, a user preference can inform a sidebar 105 to addan email module in an open state, with a length of 100 pixels, an IMmodule in an open state, with a length of 500 pixels and a vitalitymodule in a closed state.

In one embodiment, the sidebar 105 can obtain a username and passwordfrom a cache on the user's computer, which was saved, for example, onthe computer when the user last signed into an Internet contentprovider's website or another application provided by the contentprovider. Thus, the user is provided with a Single Sign On (SSO) option.In one embodiment, for some application modules that require additionalprotection, the user is asked to reenter their password. In oneembodiment, if a username and password are not readily available to thesidebar 105 (user not signed in), the sidebar 105 can request a usernameand password from the user.

In one embodiment, when a user first installs a sidebar 105 on theircomputer, a content provider chooses which application modules willpopulate the sidebar 105. The content provider can choose theapplication modules based on user information in the UDB, and/or whichcontent provider services a user uses. For example, if the user favors aparticular service and/or if a user neglects a particular service, itcan be added to the sidebar 105 for the user's convenience. In oneembodiment, the content provider can measure the usage of a particularservice by the amount of information stored in a UDB for that service.In addition, the content provider can load the sidebar 105 with servicesthat they want to promote. If the user is an avid user of InstantMessenger, with a large number of friends in their friend list, thecontent provider can default an IM module in the sidebar. If the user isa part of a social networking service, and has a large network offriends, the content provider can add a vitality module to the sidebar105, so that the user can stay current with any updates made by friendsin their community.

When a user is signed in, the welcome module 120 comprises a “sign out”link, which the user can select to sign out of the sidebar 105. In oneembodiment, when no one is signed into the sidebar 105, an anonymoususer is applied and the sidebar 105 is preferably loaded with a defaultset of information. The anonymous sidebar 105 can display images takenfrom the user's computer or from a random Internet photo sharing site.In addition, other application modules such as mail, instant messengerand vitality (discussed below) can give the user a preview of what theapplication module can provide for the user. Furthermore, in oneembodiment, advertisements displayed in an anonymous sidebar 105 areselected at random.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary sidebar 105 as would be experienced byan anonymous user. While an anonymous user is loaded in the sidebar 105,the sidebar 105 comprises a “sign in” link, which the user can select tosign into the sidebar 105. In one embodiment, when the user selects the“sign in” link a “sign in” slidesheet 205 appears from the left side ofthe sidebar 105. The slidesheet 205 comprises a field for a username anda field for a user password.

After inputting a user name and password, the user can select the “signin” button 210 to sign in to the sidebar 105. The sidebar 105 sends thereceived information to an Internet content provider who verifies theuser name and password. In response to a positive match between theusername and password, the Internet content provider sends the user'ssidebar 105 preferences, which are stored on the content provider'sdatabase, to the user. The sidebar 105 then uses the user preferenceinformation to build a customized or personalized graphical userinterface (GUI), which is tailored to the user in accordance with theuser's preference or other data as found, for example, in the contentprovider's UDB. As mentioned above, the user's UDB information and theuser's activities can be used to predict which application modules areimportant to the user. If the sidebar comprises application modules thatare important to a user it will compel the user to continue to use thesidebar.

Since the user's preferences are stored with the Internet contentprovider on the Internet, the user's personalized sidebar 105 experienceis available to them not just on their personal computer but on anycomputer with an Internet connection.

Returning to FIG. 1, below the welcome module 120, in the depictedembodiment the sidebar 105 comprises a photo module 125. The titlebar ofphotos module 125 comprises a doubled arrow button 119, which a user canselect to initiate a slidesheet with further information regarding theirphotos. For example, in one embodiment, clicking the double arrow buttoninitiates a slidesheet comprising the image 130 currently displayed inthe sidebar 105, one or more images that were previously displayed andone or more images that will be displayed.

The titlebar also comprises a minimize button 122 and an edit button121. In one embodiment, when the user selects the edit button 121, amenu is generated (not shown). The menu can comprise options, which theuser can select to edit the application module. For example, in a photomodule 125, a menu can comprise an option to add new photos to aslideshow.

By further example in FIG. 1, in the depicted embodiment below thephotos application module 125 titlebar, is an application module displayarea. The application module display area is where the applicationmodule displays its information to a user. The photos application module125 comprises an image 130. In one embodiment, the image 130 can beretrieved from the user's computer or the photos application module 125can display images taken from the Internet. Also included in theapplication display area, below the image 130, is a control bar 135,which a user can use to control their slideshow. In one embodiment, thecontrol bar 135 comprises one button to skip to the next photo, onebutton to rewind to a previous photo and one button to pause/play theslideshow.

In one embodiment, for example when a user clicks on the image 130, aphotos slidesheet 127 appears from the left side of the sidebar 105. Thephoto slidesheet 127 comprises a larger version 132 of the image 130displayed in the slidesheet 105. In one embodiment, the photo slidesheet127 also comprises metadata 134 associated with the image 132. Themetadata 134 can include, in one embodiment, the location of the photo.In one embodiment, the photo is located on the user's computer and thelocation is a local directory. In one embodiment, the photo is takenfrom an Internet photo sharing site and the location is a universalresource identifier (URI). In one embodiment, the metadata can alsocomprise tags associated with photos from a photo sharing site. The tagsare used to categorize photos and find new photos with similar tags.

Below the metadata 134, the photo slidesheet 127 also comprises sharingbuttons 136, 137, 138. In one embodiment, the sharing buttons comprisean “email this” button 136, an “IM this” button 137 and a “blog this”button 138. The user can use these buttons to share the photo 132 withother Internet users. The sharing buttons are not limited to thesesharing options. Other sharing options, such as, for example, blastingon a social networking website, can also be added to the slidesheet 127.In addition, sharing buttons are not limited to the photos module 125.Any media, for example, images, articles, videos, reviews and othersharable media, which is display by the sidebar 105, can include sharingbuttons to provide the user with a quick and convenient tool for sharingcontent with their friends.

Returning to the main sidebar 105, (FIG. 1), below the photos module 125is an email module 140. The email module 140 comprises a titlebar withcontrols and a display area comprising unread emails from a user'sinbox. The email module interacts with a user's email program(s) such asOutlook, Yahoo! Mail, and the like, to provide a compact interface andaccess to certain functions of the main email program. The email module140 is in a preferred open state, and thus comprises a subset of a fullset of application module information. The different display states ofan application module are discussed below. The criteria for the subsetof information can be chosen by the user, and in FIG. 1, the examplesubset depicted is unread emails. In one embodiment, unread emails in auser's “bulk” folder are ignored when the unread emails are populated inthe email module 140. Thus, the user is protected from receiving spam intheir sidebar 105. In one embodiment, the subset of emails can belimited to family members. Application module display states arediscussed further below.

As seen in the example depicted in FIG. 1, the email module 140comprises three messages 145, 150 and 155. In one embodiment, when auser selects one of the unread emails, a slidesheet appears fordisplaying more of, or all of, the text of the email. Email options,such as, for example, reply, forward and reply to all can also beprovided to a user from a slidesheet. In one embodiment, when a userselects one of their unread emails, the email item disappears from themail module 140 and the mail module 140 resizes. The email module 140communicates with the email application on the user's machine or asadministered by an email service made available by an Internet contentprovider so that changes made in the email module 140 are reflected inthe user's principal email application. Thus, for example, an emailforwarded via the sidebar mail module 140 will be indicated as forwardedshould the user log on to their principal email application on-line.

In one embodiment, a sidebar 105 application module comprises a subsetof all the services that are available through the full servicecounterpart of the application. In one embodiment, a user is redirectedto the full service counterpart of an application, when a non-supportedservice is selected. Opening the full service counterpart of theapplication not only provides users with additional functionality, itcan also be used by an Internet content provider to introduce users tonew services and/or to new aspects of services that the user alreadyuses. For example, in one embodiment, an email module only displaysunread emails from a user's inbox. The user must use the full serviceemail application to view read mail. In one embodiment, an email modulecan display the text of an email, but the user must use the full serviceemail application to obtain an attachment to the email.

Returning to the example of FIG. 1, the sidebar 105 also comprises aninstant messenger (IM) module 160. The IM module is in a closed state(described below). In one embodiment, a user can change the state ofapplication modules by double clicking on the titlebar and/or selectingthe double arrow button.

A vitality module 165 is displayed under the messenger module 160.Vitality allows users of community services such as reviews, blogs orsocial networking sites to remain current with updates made to thesecommunity services. Vitality will be discussed below.

Below the vitality module 165 is a targeted advertisement 170. Thetargeted advertisement 170 is selected based on one or more criteriaassociated with the user. For example, in one embodiment, the targetedadvertisement can be selected based on information in a user's UDB,and/or on recent user actions, such as, for example, recent searchesand/or purchases.

Below the targeted advertisement 170 is a “customize” module 175. In oneembodiment, the user can select the “customize” module 175 to makechanges to their sidebar 105. For example, the user can add applicationmodules and perform other preference setting functions.

A sidebar 105 typically has a limited amount of room to display itsapplication modules, and each application module can have a large numberof items that a user may wish to access. Thus, it will be recognizedfrom the teachings presented herein that the particular deployment of asidebar of the present disclosure can be modified to suit applicationspecific needs or user requirements and still be within the scope of theinventions described herein. Thus, in one embodiment, an applicationmodule may exist in one of a plurality of states. FIGS. 3-5 illustrate aplurality of application modules in various states. The sidebar 105depicted in FIGS. 3-5 are longer in vertical length than the sidebar 105in FIGS. 1-2, but the Figures represent the same sidebar 105 indifferent display states. In one embodiment, a user can increase theresolution of their display and thus provide more room for the sidebarto display additional information.

In a closed state, the application module displays a titlebar comprisinga title identifying the application module. Application modules 160, 165and 175 of FIG. 1 are in a closed state. In one embodiment, the closedstate can also comprise a limited amount of information, such as, forexample, one stock quote, or a temperature for one location. In oneembodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the IM module titlebar 307 can comprisea tool to display and adjust the current status of a user.

In a full open state, the application module displays as much of a fullset of application module information that fits in or is designed for adisplay area 309. FIG. 3 illustrates an IM module 160 in a full openstate. In the full open state, the IM module display area 309 candisplay the user's entire friends list. As the display area 309 isincreased in size, more of the user's friends list is displayed to theuser. The full friends list can also be viewed by selecting theslidesheet button 315, and initiating a slidesheet 310 comprising thefriends list. In one embodiment, if a user's friends list extends beyondthe vertical length of the slidesheet 310, a scroll bar is displayed onthe right side of the slidesheet 310, so that the user can access all oftheir friends.

In a preferred open state, an application module display area comprisesa subset of the application module information displayed in a full openstate. A preferred open state allows the sidebar 105 to display a subsetof information that is more important and/or useful to the user. Theinformation included in the subset can be chosen by the user.

FIG. 4 illustrates an IM module 160 in a preferred open state. In oneembodiment, in the preferred open state, the IM module display area 405comprises the IM participants that the user most recently conversedwith. In one embodiment, the IM module 160, updates the display area 405with IM participants contacted through the sidebar 105 or through astand alone messenger application. In one embodiment, both the messengerapplication and the sidebar 105 track a user's IM usage and stores theusage information in the user's UDB so that both applications haveaccess to the user's most recent contacts. In one embodiment, when bothapplications are running, the applications can send messages to eachother to keep updated. In one embodiment, one application can be allowedto track the operations of the other application so that the list canremain current. In one embodiment, as the user increases the size of theIM module 160, additional IM participants are added to the list.

In one embodiment, an IM module 160 preferred open state can comprisethe IM participants in one of the user's groups. In one embodiment, anIM module 160 preferred open state can comprise the “most active” IMparticipants.

In one embodiment, a slidesheet displayed from a preferred open statecomprises a full set of application module information. Thus, in FIG. 4,the slidesheet 410 comprises the entire friends list. In one embodiment,the slidesheet can comprise a more comprehensive subset of informationand/or a plurality of different subsets of information. In oneembodiment, the preferred open state is the only available open statefor the sidebar. A full set of information can only be accessed througha slidesheet. In one embodiment, a user can switch between open statesthrough a menu accessed from the menu button 421. In one embodiment, thetitlebar of the application can comprise a button for switching betweenstates.

The preferred open state is not limited an IM module 160. FIG. 5illustrates an email module 140 in a preferred open state. In a fullopen state the IM module display area 505 can comprise all the email ina user's inbox (not shown). In a preferred open state, the display area505 can comprise a subset of emails from the user's inbox. For example,in one embodiment, the display area 505 can be configured to compriseemail only from the user's family. In one embodiment, the preferred openstate can comprise only unread email.

The sidebar 105 can be used to access user information, such as, forexample, an address book, a calendar, notes and other user information.FIG. 6 illustrates a sidebar 105 comprising an address book module 605.In one embodiment, the address book module 605 can be added to thesidebar 105 through the customize module 175. An Internet address bookis a service provided by an Internet content provider which a user canuse to save their contacts on a server. Saving contacts on a serverallows the user to access their contacts from any computer that hasaccess to the Internet. In one embodiment, the address book module 605,can also search the user's local computer for contact information.

In one embodiment, when a user selects the double arrow button in thetitlebar of the address book module 605, an address book slidesheet 610is displayed. The address book slidesheet 610 comprises a list of itemscomprising the user's contacts. In one embodiment, the items comprisethe name of the contact, and the contact's email address, if available.

When a user selects one of the contacts in the slidesheet 610, anindividual contact slidesheet 615 is initiated. The individual contactslidesheet 610 comprises some or all of the information available to auser through a full address book service. For example, in FIG. 6, thecontact slidesheet 615 comprises the name of the contact in the titlebaran email, a physical address and a phone number. Other information cancomprise an IM identifier, notes, mobile phone, birth date, and othercontact information.

The contact slidesheet 615 also comprises a link 617 to edit theinformation. Selecting the edit link 617 initiates an edit slidesheet618. The edit slidesheet 618 provides a number of fields 620 that a usercan type in to edit the contact information. Once the user has finishedediting, they can select the save button to save their edits or the exitbutton to cancel their edits. In one embodiment, the edit slidesheet 618can appear to the left of the contact slidesheet 615. In one embodiment,the edit slidesheet 618 can replace the contact slidesheet 615. In oneembodiment, selecting the edit button 617, initiates a full address bookservice, for example, through a browser.

Using the slidesheets of the sidebar 105, a user can access theircontact information, and other personal user information, such as, forexample, a schedule and notes, directly from a desktop without openinganother application or having to access an address book webpage througha browser. In addition, the user can edit their personal informationdirectly through the sidebar 105. The edits are transmitted to anInternet content provider and saved on a server so that changes made tothe user's personal information, through the sidebar 105, are availableto the user and to other applications. An address book is just oneexample of an Internet service that can be accessed and edited throughthe sidebar. In other embodiments, the sidebar can have an applicationmodule for personal notes, news, maps, weather, a calendar and otherpersonal Internet services that store user information.

In one embodiment, the sidebar can comprise a combination address bookand IM module (not shown). A full vertical slidesheet for thiscombination module can comprise a tabbing structure. An address book tabcomprises a list of the user's contacts, and an IM tab comprises auser's friends list. In one embodiment, the user can message an IMparticipant from either list. In one embodiment, if any of the user'saddress book contacts is an IM participant, their “sign-in” status isvisible from the address book tab. For example, in one embodiment, anitem in the address book tab can comprise a smiling face for a signed-inparticipant and a sleeping face for a signed-off participant.

Since the sidebar 105 has access to a user's personal information thesidebar 105 can offer targeted advertisements to the user. A targetedadvertisement is more likely to be read and clicked on by a user and isless intrusive to the user because it is relevant to their interests.The sidebar 105 of FIG. 7 comprises a targeted advertisement 705. In oneembodiment, the targeted advertisement 705 is related to a term mostsearched by the user. Thus, if the user performs a number of searchesfor a particular car manufacturer, a fashion designer or an actor, thesidebar 105 can display advertisements that are associated with theuser's search terms. The user's search statistics can be gatheredthrough the sidebar 105, a browser, or other search applications.

In one embodiment the advertisement 705 can be associated with aretailer website that the user frequently visits. In one embodiment, theadvertisement 705 can be for accessories for a product recentlypurchased by the user. In one embodiment, the advertisement can beassociated with interests that the user previously selected in a profilebuilt by the user, or through explicit preference selections made by auser during interaction with other services, for example, music orshopping services, or derived by the service provider through observedbehavior of the user as the user interacts with the provider's servicesor other Internet or user computer activities. Thus, for example, byutilizing user preference information obtained through a user'sinteractions with a music service of the content provider, the contentprovider can offer personalized advertisements. For example, if a userhas indicated a preference for metal music, this information can be usedto generate an ad that features a new metal CD, concert, or other metalproducts. Similarly, shopping preferences can be obtained throughproduct ratings or preferences indicated by a user interacting with ashopping service of the content provider. In one embodiment, the sidebar105 can perform a keyword search on documents, currently open on thecomputer, currently being viewed by the user, and/or frequently orrecently accessed by the user, and display advertisements associatedwith any matched keywords.

In addition to targeted advertisements in the main sidebar 105, targetedadvertisements can also be included in the sidebar's 105 slidesheets.The slidesheet advertisements can be associated with the type ofapplication module that it is displayed in. In addition, if a user issigned into the sidebar 105, the slidesheet advertisement can beassociated with the application module type selected, so that, forexample, when the user selects the photo related application module inthe sidebar 105, the targeted ad can be photo related, such as, forexample, a camera ad or an ad for a photo editing program.

For example, in one embodiment, when a user opens a slidesheet for aphoto module 125, the photos slidesheet 710 comprises an advertisement720 for a digital camera. In one embodiment, a weather module candisplay an advertisement for an umbrella if the weather is rainy, andadvertisement for sunscreen if the weather is sunny and an advertisementfor antifreeze if the weather is snowing. In one embodiment, a financemodule can display an advertisement for an online brokerage house. Theseslidesheet advertisements 720 can be further targeted to the user bydisplaying a camera manufacturer that the user purchased in the past, ordisplaying new services from an online brokerage house that the user isa member of.

In one embodiment, selecting the advertisement 720 in the slidesheet 710opens a new slidesheet 725 with additional information regarding theadvertised product or service. In one embodiment, selecting theadvertisement can open a browser window to the advertiser's homepage orto a retailer where the product can be purchased.

In one embodiment, the sidebar 105 can display an advertisement based onrecent user interaction with the sidebar 105. For example, whichapplication module was recently added to the sidebar 105, whichapplication modules were recently placed in an open state, whichapplication module is most frequently used by the user, and othersidebar 105 interactions.

Some application modules comprise a list of items, while otherapplication modules do not display items. For example, an emailapplication module comprises items while a photo slideshow that resizesimages based on the size of the application module display area, doesnot. In known sidebars, the number of items in an application moduledisplay area is not discrete. For example, in an email applicationmodule the last email item in the list can be truncated or onlypartially displayed. In one embodiment, application modules thatcomprise items are forced to comprise a whole number of menu items.Thus, when a user resizes an application module, the application modulewill “snap” to fully include or fully exclude an item as opposed todisplaying a partial item. A whole item display format can also beimplemented in an application module's slidesheet.

For example, and as discussed further below, the email module 140 ofFIG. 7 comprises three email messages while the email application module140 of FIG. 8 comprises a whole fourth message 805. The whole fourthmessage 805 would have appeared even if the user did not resize theapplication module to include the entire fourth message 805.

Since the space available to the sidebar is finite, if one applicationmodule increases in size another application module shrinks in size. Inone embodiment, when a user increases an application module with itemsthe additional space is taken from an application module that does notcomprise the items, such as, for example, a photo module or a notepadmodule. As shown in FIG. 8, photo module 125 has shrunk to accommodatethe additional email message 805.

If the photo module cannot be shrunk further, then whole items aredeleted from application modules with items. If all of the openapplication modules can no longer be shrunk, in one embodiment, thesidebar can force application modules into a closed state and/or theuser is not allowed to increase the size of the application module anyfurther. In one embodiment, the sidebar 105 can memorize the state ofthe application modules that were affected by the resize so that if theuser undoes the resize the affected application module can be returnedto their original state.

If an application module is increased in size, in one embodiment, thesidebar 105 restores the other modules in a reverse order in which theywere shrunk. In one embodiment, the sidebar 105 can insert grace spaceon the bottom of the sidebar 105, if necessary.

If an application module without items is resized, the sidebar firsttakes space from another application module without items. If the otherall application modules without items can no longer be shrunk, thesidebar 105, in one embodiment, can delete whole items and snap the sizeof the resized application module to accommodate the available freespace. In one embodiment, the sidebar 105 can insert grace space on thebottom of the sidebar 105, if necessary.

In addition to using a whole number of items in the main sidebar 105, awhole number of items can also be forced in a slidesheet. FIG. 9illustrates a slidesheet 905 for an email module 140. The mail folderslidesheet 905 comprises a whole number of messages. Increasing ordecreasing the size of the slidesheet 905 produces the snapping effectof including or excluding a truncated email item.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an email application that can be accessedthrough a sidebar 105. The email module 140 is displayed in a preferredopen state comprising the three most current unread emails. In oneembodiment, a user can display a mail folder slidesheet 905 by selectingthe double arrow button in the mail module's 140 titlebar. In oneembodiment, the folder slidesheet 905 defaults to the user's inbox. Inone embodiment, the folder slidesheet 905 can comprise a plurality offolders identified by subtitle bars. Emails listed under a subtitle barbelong to the folder identified in the subtitle bar. In one embodiment,the folder slidesheet 905 can display a drop down menu (not shown)comprising the name of email folders. When a user selects a particularfolder the emails in the folder slidesheet 905 are updated to displaythe emails in the selected folder.

In one embodiment, the sidebar 105 periodically polls the user's emailserver to determine if the user received any new emails. In oneembodiment, the sidebar 105 can monitor whether another emailapplication running on the user's computer has received a new email. Inone embodiment, the sidebar 105 can detect if another application hasdetected a new email or the application that detected the new email canalert the sidebar of the new email. In one embodiment, the sidebar 105can receive an alert indicating that a new email has been received. Thealert receiving module can be part of the sidebar 105, or part ofanother application. If the alert is received by another application,the reception of the alert can be detected by the sidebar 105, or theother application can inform the sidebar 105 that an alert was received.The alert can be sent by the email server or a more general alertserver, which monitors for updates across all of a content provider'sservices.

In one embodiment, the user can receive emails informing the user thatchanges were posted to a community website by another community user.For example, a user can receive an email when a social networking memberupdates their blog, sends them an invitation, or performs other socialnetworking activities. In one embodiment, the user can receive an emailinforming them that an update has been made to their online photosharing service. For example, a new photo could have been posted and/ora new comment could have been made. These community update emails cancomprise a link to the updated information. In one embodiment, selectingthe link initiates a browser, where the user can access the full versionof the updated community information. In one embodiment, selecting thelink can open a vitality slidesheet, which will be discussed below.

In FIG. 9, the user has selected email message 2 150 in the folderslidesheet 905. When the user selects the email item 150, the emailmessage is opened in an item level email slidesheet 915. The emailslidesheet 915 comprises the subject of the email message in thetitlebar, a “from” field, the body of the message, a spam control button920 and email controls 925. Additionally, when the email message 150 isopened, the email item 150 is highlighted, the envelope is changed to anopen envelope, email message 2 150 is removed from the mail module 140display area, and the number in the titlebar is decreased to reflect thenew number of unread emails in the user's inbox. In one embodiment, useractions in the mail module 140, such as, for example, opening an email,are sent to the full service mail server. Thus, changes made to a user'semail in the sidebar 105 are reflected in the user's full service emailapplication.

The email slidesheet 915 comprises a spam control button 920, whichprovides the user with direct access to strengthen their full servicespam controls by identifying spam from their sidebar 105. If the useridentifies an email as spam, they can select the spam control button920. In response to the selection of the spam control button 920, thesidebar 105 sends a message to the full service email server indicatingthat the selected email is spam. Then the full service email serverincorporates the received information into the user's spam settingsthereby strengthening the user's spam protection.

In addition to spam controls, a user can access other mail functionsthrough the sidebar 105 by selecting the email controls 925 or thecompose link 910 in the folder slidesheet 905 titlebar. In oneembodiment, selecting the compose link 910 opens the user's defaultemail application so that the user can compose a message. In oneembodiment, the sidebar 105 displays a slidesheet comprising a field inwhich the user can compose a new message, a field for a recipient and afield for a subject. The composed message is transmitted by the sidebar105 to an email server for delivery. In one embodiment, selecting anemail control 925 opens the user's default email application so that theuser can perform the selected operation. In one embodiment, the sidebardisplays a slidesheet from which the user can perform the selectedoperation.

FIG. 10 illustrates a message form slidesheet 1005 that can be displayedby the sidebar 105 when a user selects the reply link in the emailcontrols 1025. The slidesheet 1005 comprises a “to” field, whichcomprises the recipient of the email, a compose field 1010, in which theuser can type their message, and a plurality of controls to manipulatethe reply message. For example, when the user is finished composingtheir message, the user can select the send link, to send the message toan email server for delivery.

The Internet allows people to connect and share thoughts in a number ofdifferent ways. For example, social networking communities allow usersto add friends to their network, and thereby connected to many otherpeople through their friends' friends. Social networking websites allowtheir users to post blogs, photos, blasts, and other media that a userwants to share with their group of friends, such as Yahoo! 360, offeredby Yahoo! Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. Another example of a communitynetwork is an online photo sharing website. Photos are assigned tags andposted to a user's photo site. Other users can search for photos byuser, group or tag. They can also comment on the photo. Yet anotherexample of a community network is a review network. People know theirfriends tastes, so they can trust a friend's review more than anotherperson's review. Many of these community networks provide email updateswhen a user's friend makes a new post. Vitality is an application modulethat, in one embodiment, seeks out updates to a user's communitynetworks and lists them in a sidebar 105. Thus, the user can staycurrent with all their community networks without having to visit anumber of different websites.

In one embodiment, the vitality module 165 can work with a user's emailalerts. For example, the vitality module 165 can initiate a search forupdated information in all of a user's community networks when an alertemail is received from any one of the user's community networks. In oneembodiment, the vitality module 165 periodically polls the user'scommunity networks for updated information. In one embodiment, thevitality module 165 can receive an alert indicating that a user'scommunity network has been updated. The alert can come from a generalalert server, which manages all updates to a user's Internet services,and/or the alert can come from an alert application module in anotherapplication. The alert is not limited to an email, in one embodiment thealert can be a message from an alert server and/or from anotherapplication. In one embodiment, the alert also comprises the updatedinformation.

In one embodiment, the vitality module 165 only displays communityinformation and only receives alerts from services offered by the samecompany that offers the sidebar 105, in order to promote the sidebarprovider's services. In other embodiments, the sidebar 105 can retrieveinformation and receive alerts from the sidebar provider's communitysites and/or other content provider community sites by scraping, or byusing the user's login and password for the specific site to collectupdated information on behalf of the user. In one embodiment, emailsreceived from third party community sites can be interpreted by thesidebar 105, and added to the vitality module 165. If the emailcomprises a URL that points to the updated information, the URL can beused by the sidebar 105 to retrieve and display the updated informationas part of a vitality slidesheet.

FIG. 11 illustrates a vitality module 165 in a full open state. Thevitality module 165 display area comprises the three latest updates froma user's community networks. The vitality module 165 comprises a moviereview, the movie review comprising a visible rating system, and apreview of the review. The vitality item also comprises an image “A”associated with the user. The vitality module 165 also comprises a newpost to a photo sharing website, and a new post to a social networkingwebsite. In addition, since the vitality module is part of the sidebar105, the user can use their email module 140 for other purposes, suchas, for example receiving emails exclusively from family members, as isillustrated in FIG. 11.

When the user opens a full vertical slidesheet 1105 for the vitalityapplication module 165, for example, by selecting the double arrowbutton in the vitality module 165 titlebar, in one embodiment, theslidesheet 1105 comprises a list of recently updated community websites.In one embodiment, the update alerts can be grouped by a time received,by user and/or by community.

If the user selects an item in the vitality slidesheet 1105, an itemlevel slidesheet 1110 is displayed comprising additional informationabout the selected vitality item. The additional information slidesheet1110 comprises a title of the update in the titlebar, and a preview ofthe updated information. In one embodiment, clicking on the image ofslidesheet 1110 open a browser, which navigates to the updated communitywebpage.

The slidesheet 1110 also comprises an image “C” associated with the userwho posted the update, the updating user's identifier and links tocontact the updating user, for example, an IM link and an email link.The updating user's image “C” can be the same as their IM account image,their social networking image, or taken from another application and/orservice.

A sidebar 105 can also comprise a photo module 125, which can display aslideshow of images obtained, for example, from a user's computer, froma photo sharing service, from a photo database, and from other photosources. FIG. 12 illustrates a photo slidesheet 1205 for a photo module125. The photo slidesheet 1205 displays a vertical column of photos thatare part of the slideshow. In one embodiment, the photo currentlydisplayed in the sidebar 105 is centered and highlighted in the photoslidesheet 1205. In one embodiment, the photo is highlighted by a borderaround the image. In one embodiment, the brightness of the image can beadjusted to highlight the photo. In one embodiment, the photo slidesheet1205 also comprises the last two images displayed in the sideshow andthe next two images will be displayed in the sideshow.

Selecting one of the images opens an image slidesheet 1210. The imageslidesheet 1210 comprises the name of the photo in the titlebar, alarger version of the image, metadata associated with the image andsharing buttons 1215, which the user can select to share the image. Inone embodiment, the metadata is a file directory for the image. In oneembodiment, the metadata can comprise a URL of the image.

The sidebar 105 allows the user to receive and view a variety ofdifferent media. For example, the sidebar 105 allows the user to viewphotos shared on an online site, read reviews from community users,obtain weather forecasts, obtain financial information and obtain otherinformation. Currently, there is no convenient way for a user to sharethe information they access through the sidebar 105 with other people.Therefore, in one embodiment, the sidebar 105 and/or sidebar 105slidesheets can comprise sharing buttons on the same slidesheet assharable information. For example, slidesheet 1210 comprises sharingbuttons 1215. The user can select the email button to email the image toanother user, the IM button to IM the image to another user, or the blogbutton to post the image on a blog. In one embodiment, selecting asharing button initiates a full service

Sharing icons are not limited to a photo module. Any information, mediaor data that can be shared with other users can be displayed in aslidesheet with sharing buttons so that the user can easily share thedata with other users.

In one embodiment selecting a sharing icon 1215 initiates a separateapplication associated with the desired action. For example, selectingthe email button can open a user's default email application, selectingthe IM button can open an IM program and selecting the blog button canopen a browser which takes the user to their blogging webpage.

FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of a photo module 125 in which theslideshow comprises photos from a online photo sharing community, suchas, for example, Flickr. Flickr uses tags to label the photos on itssite, and users can search and view photos by tag. For example,searching for the term “cats” will show all images including the tag“cats” and/or images with tags similar to “cats”. In one embodiment, auser can search for, and subscribe to tagged images through an editingdialog (not shown), which can be initiated from a drop down menudisplayed when a user selects edit button 1302. Subscribing to a tagadds photos with the tag to the user's slideshow. Since the online photosharing community is continually updated the user's slideshow candisplay a large variety of photos;

In one embodiment, when a user selects the double arrow button in thephoto module 125 titlebar, a photo slidesheet 1305 comprising a sharedphoto search field 1310, a tag drop down menu 1315, a subscribe button1320 and a photo display area 1325 is displayed. When the slidesheet1305 is displayed the display area 1325 comprises photos from the use'sslideshow.

In one embodiment, a user can enter a search term directly from thephoto slidesheet 1305. In one embodiment, the search results can bedisplayed in the image display area 1325, as shown in FIG. 13, and inone embodiment, the search results can be displayed in anotherslidesheet (not shown). If the user likes the photos from a searchresult, the user can select the “subscribe” button 1320 to add thetagged images to their slideshow. Past searches and tags which the useris currently subscribed to can be quickly accessed through the tag menu1315. Selecting the arrow in tag menu 1315 displays a drop down menuwith a plurality of tags that the user can select.

When a user selects a photo in the photo slidesheet 1305, an item levelslidesheet 1330 comprising the selected photo is displayed. Theslidesheet 1330 comprises the location of the photo and the tags thatare associated with the photo. In one embodiment, when a user selects atag in the slidesheet 1330, a random selection of photos having theselected tag are displayed in the slidesheet 1305.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of a system 100 implemented inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. System 100 comprises auser computer 1450, an email retrieval computer 1483, a network contentprovider one 1426, and a network content provider two 1436, each coupledto a network 1480, such as, for example, the Internet 1480. Althoughillustrated as one symbol, nodes of network 1480 may be coupled togetherby a combination of different networks. A network user can use computer1450 to access content and/or services from providers 1426 and 1436through the network 1480.

Computer 150 comprises a processing module 1466, a communication module1468 and memory 1452 coupled together by bus 1464. The modules ofcomputer 1450 can be implemented as any combination of hardware,software, hardware emulating software and reprogrammable hardware. Thebus 1464 need not be a single bus, but rather, illustrates theinteroperability of the different modules of the computer 1450. In oneembodiment, there may be multiple busses. In one embodiment, somemodules are directly coupled instead of coupled via a bus 1464. Computer1450 may be implemented as a desktop, a notebook computer, a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device, a wireless phone or anyother computing device or item known or hereafter developed that iscapable of implementing the features, and/or performing functions, asdescribed herein.

In one embodiment, the processing module 1466 can be implemented as, oneor more Central Processing Units (CPUs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGA), or any other component capable of executing computerapplications. Communication module 1468 comprises one or more I/Ocomponents used by the computer 1450 to communicate with users and otherdevices. For example, components such as, a monitor, a keyboard, a mouseand a disk drive, can be used by a user to input and output informationto and from the computer 1450.

In addition, the communication module 1468 facilitates two waycommunication between the computer and other electronic devices orsystems, such as, for example, server computers provided by a networkcontent provider one 1426 and/or two 1436. Components such as a modem, anetwork interface card (NIC), a wireless adapter, a Universal Serial Bus(USB) adapter, etc., can be used by the computer 1450 to communicatewith the network 1480, and/or with peripheral devices. The computer 1450may be communicatively connected to the network 1480 through thecommunication module 1468, for example, over one or more transmissionmedia including but not limited to coaxial cable, copper wires and fiberoptic cables. Communication between the computer 1450 and the network1480 may also be accomplished via wirelessly.

In one embodiment, memory 1452 provides electronic data storage using acombination of main memory (e.g., RAM) and drive storage. Any type ofappropriate electronic memory can be used, including, withoutlimitation, RAM, ROM, drive storage (hard, floppy, optical, etc.),non-volatile memory (e.g., flash) or any other memory that can storedata. While memory 1452 is illustrated with single box around it in FIG.14, memory 1452 can comprise one, two or more different types of memorymodules. In addition, memory 1452 can be part of other modules ofcomputer 1450, such as, for example, processing module 1466, such as,for example in a processing module, which performs a specific purpose.

In one embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 14, memory 152 has storedthereon a sidebar application 1473, a browser 1472 with cache 1474, a IMapplication, 1475, an email application 1476, photos 1478 andapplication module information 1479. Specific implementations of themodules are described below.

Network content provider one 1426 comprises communication module 1415,processing module 1425 and memory 1410 coupled together by bus 1420.Communication module 1415, processing module 1425, memory 1410 and bus1420 can be implemented with components that are similar to the likenamed components of computer 1450. The memory 1410 of network contentprovider 1426 has stored thereon, a sidebar installation module 1437, acontent provider service module one 1440 with user information 1441, auser database 1438, and an alert module 1439. FIG. 14 illustrates oneembodiment of a network content provider one 1426, in alternateembodiments, the modules of network content provider one 1426, can besplit among a plurality of computers. For example, in one embodiment,network content provider two 1436, also provides an Internet service,and therefore comprises a content provider service module two 1453 withuser information 1454. In one embodiment, network content provider one1426 and network content provider two 1436 are run by the same company.In one embodiment, network content provider one 1426 and network contentprovider two 1436 are run by independent companies.

In one embodiment, the sidebar application 1473 can be operable todisplay a sidebar 105 on a user's computer as described above. Thesidebar 105 comprises one or more application modules that provide someor all of the services of a principle application. For example, an emailmodule can comprise unread emails sent to the user. In one embodiment, auser can obtain a sidebar application 1473 by using a browser 1472 tonavigate to one of network content provider one's 1426 webpages. Throughthe webpage, the user gains access to a sidebar installation program1437, which can be used to install the sidebar application 1473 onto theuser computer 1450.

In one embodiment, during installation, the sidebar application 1473searches the user's computer for a usemame and password to the user'scontent provider account. For example, the sidebar application 1473 cansearch in the browser's cache, and/or in another application provided bythe content provider, such as, for example, an IM application 1475 or amusic engine (not shown). In one embodiment, the sidebar application1473 can ask the user for a usemame and password.

If the user does not have an account or if no usemame and password areprovided, the sidebar application 1473 can load a default setting. Inaddition, in one embodiment, the sidebar application 1473 can forwardthe user to a website from which the user can sign up with the contentprovider 1426. The default sidebar settings for a non-member cancomprise application modules that are most popular with member users,application modules for services that the content provider would like topromote, application modules based on the programs installed on theuser's computer, random application modules, and other factors.

If the sidebar application 1473 obtains a valid usemame and password, itcontacts the network content provider one 1426 for the user's sidebarpreferences or sidebar application information 1490, which, in oneembodiment, are stored in the content provider's user database (UDB)1438. In one embodiment, the user's sidebar preferences 1490 comprisethe types of application modules in the sidebar, the display state ofthe application modules and dimensional information for applicationmodules in an open state.

In one embodiment, user database 1438 comprises user specificinformation that can comprise sidebar application information 1490,application module preference information 1491, shared user information1492 and user preference information 1495. User database 1438information can be obtained through a user's interaction with networkcontext provider one 1426, either through explicit data collection orimplicit data collection forced upon user behavior, as well asinteraction with the sidebar 1473 application.

In one embodiment, user database 1438 comprises sidebar applicationinformation 1490, which can include, for example, information thatdefines how the sidebar 1473 is displayed to a user, e.g. the types ofapplication modules that are loaded into the sidebar 1473, whether thesidebar 1473 is on the left or right of the desktop, its size, andwhether certain modules are initially in a particular state.

User database 1438 can also comprise user preference information 1495,which comprises user preferences for other applications. For example,when a content provider offers multiple services, and they are utilizedby a user, the user's interactions with these services can yieldpreference information regarding many categories, such as, for example,musical tastes, products used and/or purchased, topics researched, gamesplayed, sports followed, regions traveled, movies and restaurantsreviewed, etc. This information can be yielded by direct or explicitdata collection of preferences through rating selection for productsand/or services, and/or by implicit data collection through observedbehavior and interaction with a content providers' products and/orservices.

User preference information 1495 can be used to select default modulesand to select targeted advertisements to send to a user. In oneembodiment, the user preference information 1495 is part of the shareduser information 1492, and in one embodiment, the user preferenceinformation 1495 is part of user information from an independent contentprovider service.

In one embodiment, user database information 1438 can be processed toyield other information useable by the sidebar 1473 and/or otherapplications. For example, user database information 1438 can reflectthat a user uses a content provider's email service more than IM, sothat in a default condition (e.g. a user's first interaction with theprogram) the sidebar program displays an email application modulewithout asking a user for configuration information. In one embodiment,the sidebar 1473 can default a service that is never or rarely used by auser so that the content provider can encourage the user to useadditional services.

The user database 1438 can also comprise application module preferenceinformation 1491 that specifies user options or preferences related toeach application module the user interacts with. For example, if theuser utilizes the email application module, the user's applicationmodule preference information 1491 can reflect that the user prefers tosee only unread emails, for example, or for IM, only the last threefriends the user messaged, or for photos which photos are to be viewedin a slideshow.

User database 1438 can also comprise shared user information 1492.Shared user information is information in user database 1438 that isshared by other applications or services of a content provider(s). Forexample, the cities which a user wishes to see weather reports for, canbe shared by a weather application module in the sidebar 1473, as wellas an Internet based weather program. Stocks to be tracked and addressesto be mapped are additional examples, of shared information. Othershared information can comprise the user's name, address, telephonenumber and other personal user information.

In one embodiment, the application module preference information 1491can comprise preference information regarding the shared userinformation 1492. For example, while the shared user information maycomprise, the cities which a user wishes to see weather reports for, theapplication module preference information 1491 can comprise the order inwhich the cities appear in the sidebar 1473. In one embodiment, eachapplication module separately obtains application module preferenceinformation 1491. In one embodiment, the sidebar 1473 retrieves theapplication module preference information 1491 and provides it to theapplication module.

In one embodiment, the user information one 1441 of content providerservice module one 1140 may comprise all or a subset of informationfound in a user database 1438, and may in implementation be the samedata in a single database or two or more different data images that areroutinely synchronized. In one embodiment, user information one 1441 isinformation that is specific to the content provider service module one1140, and comprises information that is not found in user database 1438.

While these information types are described as discrete in the aboveexample, it will be recognized from the teachings herein that eachinformation category can contain information useable by the sidebar1473, the application modules, or other programs or services, and suchinformation may be stored at a single location or multiple locations aspart of a single or distributed database or at any location on a networkin any form or format.

If this is the first time the user is using the sidebar 1473, thecontent provider 1426 can load the sidebar 1473 with a default set ofapplication modules. As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the defaultset of application modules is created based on information in the UDB1438, user information from other network content provider services1440, applications on the user's computer, and from other sources.

As mentioned above the UDB 1438 can comprise user information from aplurality of different services. Thus, when creating the default set ofsidebar application modules, the content provider 1426 can choose theapplication modules based on the principal applications that the useruses most or least, based on the principal applications that store themost information and/or based on other information stored on the UDB1438. For example, if a user frequently accesses their online addressbook, the sidebar 1473 can be loaded with an address book module. In oneembodiment, the sidebar 1473 looks to the applications loaded on theuser's computer 1450, to set the default application modules for thesidebar 1473. In one embodiment, an initial sidebar comprisesapplication modules that the content provider 1426 wants to promote,such as, for example, new service or under utilized services.

Each application module in the sidebar 1473, obtains application moduleinformation 1479 to display to the user. In one embodiment, theapplication module information 1479 is a subset of information availableto the user in a principal application. In one embodiment, the sidebar1473 stores a copy of the application module information 1479 on theuser's computer 1450. In one embodiment, the sidebar 1473 can access thesubset of information it displays from the same source as the principalapplication, whether the application is a local application or an onlineservice. As mentioned above, some of the application module information1479 can be shared information, and some of the application moduleinformation 1479 can be application module specific. In one embodiment,the application module information 1479 comprises the application modulepreference information 1491.

In one embodiment, an address book module can search a user's computerfor application module information. In one embodiment, the sidebar 1473can load information from one or more principal applications. Forexample, the user may have an online address book with a contentprovider 1426 and an address book on their local computer 1450. In oneembodiment, the sidebar 1473 can obtain address book information fromone or both the online address book and the local address book. Forexample, Outlook (a program provided by Microsoft, Inc. of Redmond,Wash.) contact files can be searched and loaded into an address bookmodule. In one embodiment, the complete Outlook user interface does nothave to be displayed for the sidebar 1473 to retrieve a user's contactfiles. The sidebar can retrieve the information from an Outlook API.However, if Outlook is not running, and there is more than one profilein existence, the sidebar 1473 determines which profile to access. Inone embodiment, the sidebar 1473 can use some logic to guess the correctprofile, such as, for example, picking a profile with a similar name tothe sidebar user. In one embodiment, the sidebar can ask the user topick a profile. If the selected profile is password protected and thesidebar cannot retrieve the password from another source (e.g., apassword storing application), then the sidebar 1473 retrieves thepassword from the user. Both profile and password information can beretrieved from a user by invoking a default MAPI logon dialog to promptfor the information.

A user can adjusts the preferences for the sidebar, such as, the typesof application modules, their display states, their size, their order,which principal application(s) they retrieve information from, and otherpreferences. These preferences are transmitted to the content provider1426 and saved on a server, for example on the UDB 1438, so that theuser can have the same sidebar experience on any computer with anInternet connection. In addition, in one embodiment, updates made touser information through the sidebar 1473 are sent to the contentprovider and stored in the appropriate location, i.e., the UDB, userinformation one 1441 and/or user information two 1454, so that theuser's updates are reflected in the principal application.

Targeted advertisements, email modules, community updates, informationsharing and other sidebar functions are described in greater detailbelow.

The location and number of the network content provider computers,databases and modules in FIG. 14 illustrate one embodiment of theinvention. In alternate embodiments, for example, for scalability,security or backup purposes the location and number of the networkcontent provider computers, databases and modules can be omitted,expanded and interchanged without exceeding the scope of the invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method 1500 for building a sidebar implementedaccording to one embodiment of the invention. Method 1500 starts in step1505. Then, method 1500 proceeds to step 1510, where a sidebardetermines if login information is stored on a user's computer, forexample, in a cookie in a browser cache. The login information can alsobe obtained from another content provider application. Searching forlogin information on the user's computer provides the user with a SingleSign On (SSO) experience across one content provider's services. Iflogin information is not stored on a user's computer, method 1500proceeds to step 1515, where a sidebar obtains login information from auser. In one embodiment, the sidebar will display a slidesheetcomprising fields for the user to enter their user name and password.

Returning to step 1510, if login information is stored on the user'scomputer method 1500 proceeds directly to step 1520, where a sidebarrequests user preference information from a user database. In oneembodiment, the user database is maintained by an Internet contentprovider who provides the sidebar 1473, and the user's sidebarpreferences are stored on a content provider computer 1426. In oneembodiment, the user preference information comprises the types ofapplication modules in the user's sidebar 1473, the application modules'display state, and dimensional information for the application modules.

Following step 1520, method 1500 proceeds to step 1525, where thesidebar 1473 receives the user preference information, for example, froma content provider computer 1426. In one embodiment, the applicationmodule information can be obtained from the user's computer, forexample, in an “off-line” embodiment. In one embodiment, the userpreference information also comes with some application moduleinformation that can be loaded into an application module. Then method1500 proceeds to step 1530, where the sidebar 1473 uses the userpreference information to build a graphical user interface (GUI) for thesidebar 1473. In one embodiment, the sidebar is displayed on the righthand side of a desktop and is available for a user to access theirInternet services.

In step 1535, each application module retrieves and loads applicationmodule information associated with the type of the application module.The information can be obtained from the user's computer 1450, from aUDB 1438, from a content provider service module 1 1440, contentprovider service module 2 1453, from the Internet and from othersources. As described above, in one embodiment, the application moduleinformation is a subset of the service module information. Eachapplication module can continuously update itself with new information.Method 1500 ends in step 1540.

There is typically a limited amount of desktop space for a user'sapplication modules. Therefore, in one embodiment, application modulescan have one of at least three states: a closed state, a full openstate, and a preferred open state. FIG. 16 illustrates a method 1600 fordisplaying an application module based on its display state. In oneembodiment, method 1600 can be part of the GUI building step 1530 ofmethod 1500. Method 1600 starts in step 1605. Then in step 1610, thesidebar 1473 determines the display state of an application module.

If the display state for the application module is closed, in oneembodiment, method 1600 proceeds down the “closed” path to step 1615. Instep 1615, the sidebar 1473 displays the titlebar of the applicationmodule in the sidebar. In one embodiment, the titlebar comprises thename of the application module and controls for manipulating theapplication module. Then method 1600 ends in step 1650.

Returning to step 1610, if a display state for the application module isfull open, in one embodiment, method 1600 proceeds down the “full open”path to step 1620, where the sidebar 1473 displays the titlebar of theapplication module in the sidebar 1473. Then in step 1625, the sidebaruses the dimensional information to build a display area for theapplication module. Following step 1625, in step 1630, the sidebardisplays as much of a full set of application module information thatwill fit in the display area. As described above, in one embodiment, afull set of application module information means all the userinformation that is available through an application module. Theprincipal counterpart application can still comprise additionalinformation that the user cannot access through a sidebar. For example,the full set of emails available to a user through a sidebar 1473 can belimited to their inbox. If the user wants to view their sent mail theycan use their principal email application. Method 1600 ends in step1650.

Returning to step 1610, if a display state for the application module ispreferred open, in one embodiment method 1600 proceeds down the“preferred open” path to step 1635, where the sidebar 1473 displays thetitlebar of the application module in the sidebar 1473. Then in step1640, the sidebar 1473 uses the dimensional information to build adisplay area for the application module. Following step 1640, in step1645, the sidebar 1473 displays as much of a preferred set ofapplication module information that will fit in the display area. In oneembodiment, a preferred set of application module information is asubset of the full set of application information. In one embodiment, apreferred set of application module information for an IM module cancomprise the last few users the sidebar user conversed with. In oneembodiment, a preferred set of module information for an email modulecan comprise unread emails, or unread emails from a user's family.Method 1600 ends in step 1650.

In one embodiment of the invention, a sidebar 1473 only provides apreferred open state, where the preferred application module informationis the full set of information available to a user through a sidebar1473.

Some application modules, such as, for example, an online address bookor an online calendar, comprise user information stored on an Internetcontent provider computer 1426. In one embodiment, this information canbe accessed through a sidebar 1473. In addition, in one embodiment, theuser can edit their user information through the sidebar 1473. Editsmade to a user's information are reflected in the application module'scounterpart principal application using a browser or anotherapplication.

FIG. 17 illustrates a method 1700 for updating user information througha sidebar. Method 1700 starts in step 1705. Then in step 1710, thesidebar 1473 detects a change in an application module to informationthat is stored on an Internet content provider computer 1426. Followingstep 1710, in step 1715, the sidebar transmits the updated applicationmodule information to the appropriate Internet content computer 1426. Inone embodiment, in an email module, if a user reads an unread email, thesidebar 1473 transmits a message to the user's email service indicatingthat the email has been read. In one embodiment, the sidebar 1473 cansend a message, for example, using HTTP, to the email server. In one,embodiment, a user can make a change to a user's address book entrythrough a sidebar 1473 slidesheet. When the user saves their changes,the sidebar transmits the changes to a content provider 1426 so it canupdate the user's UDB 1438. Method 1700 ends in step 1720.

FIG. 18 illustrates a method 1800, implemented according to oneembodiment, for selecting targeted advertisements to insert into thesidebar 1473 and/or slidesheets of a user. Method 1800 starts in step1805, then method 1800 proceeds to step 1810, where a provider sidesidebar module 1422 receives a request for an advertisement from asidebar application 1473. In one embodiment, a request can be sent by asidebar 1473 because the sidebar application is initially loading, thesidebar is refreshing, or the user is opening a slidesheet. A requestcan comprise a usemame and can indicate whether the advertisement is fora sidebar or a slidesheet. If the advertisement is for a slidesheet, therequest can also comprise a type of application module the slidesheetwas initiated from.

Following step 1810, in step 1815, the sidebar provider computer 1426determines whether the advertisement is for a main sidebar 1473 windowor for a slidesheet. If the advertisement is for the sidebar 1473,method 1800 proceeds down the “sidebar” path to step 1820. In step 1820,if the user of the sidebar 1473 is anonymous, then method 1800 proceedsto step 1825, where a non-targeted advertisement is transmitted to thesidebar 1473. Then, method 1800 ends in step 1855.

Returning to step 1820, if the user is not anonymous, for example, acontent provider member is signed into the sidebar 1473, then method1800 proceeds to step 1830, where the sidebar module 1422 selects anadvertisement based on user specific information, such as, for example,the user's location, the user's interests as obtained by user input topreference selections presented by the content provider, or by thecontent provider through data collection related to the user'sinteraction with the various services of the content provider, termsmost searched by the user, the last few terms searched by the user, andother user information and/or this and other information found in userpreference information 1495. For example, a user who enjoys electronicgadgets can be sent advertisements for such gadgets. After step 1830,method 1800 proceeds to step 1850, where the selected advertisement istransmitted to the user computer 1450. Following step 1850, method 1800ends in step 1855.

Returning to step 1815, if the advertisement is for a slidesheet, method1800 proceeds down the “slidesheet” path to step 1835. If the user isanonymous, method 1800 proceeds to step 1840, where an advertisement isselected based on the type of application in which the advertisementwill be displayed. For example, a slidesheet for an online radio playercan display an advertisement to purchase the currently playing song, ora digital audio player that is compatible with the content provider'smusic service. Then method 1800 proceeds to step 1850, and ends in step1855.

Returning to step 1835, if the user is not anonymous, then method 1800proceeds to step 1845, where an advertisement is selected based on thetype of application module in which the advertisement will be displayed,and user specific information. For example, a slidesheet for a mapmodule initiated by the gadget lover can comprise the latest handheldGPS navigation system. Then method 1800 proceeds to step 1850 and endsin step 1855.

In one embodiment, the request for advertising is implicit in a requestfor user sidebar preference information, and an advertisement oradvertisements are transmitted to the user with their sidebarpreferences. In one embodiment, a sidebar module 1422 predetermines theadvertisements that will be sent to a sidebar 1473 user, from thepersonal user information already available to the provider side sidebarmodule 1422, and transmits the predetermined advertisements to the-userwith the user's sidebar preferences. In one embodiment, a plurality ofadvertisements can be sent to a sidebar 1473 for slidesheets and/or forthe main sidebar window. The sidebar application 1473 can determinewhich advertisements to display based on the user's actions, and/orbased on time.

In order to provide enhanced usability and a cleaner display, sidebars1473 and/or slidesheets that comprise application modules with itemswill comprise, in one embodiment, a whole number of items (e.g., notfractionally or partially displayed). FIG. 19 illustrates a method 1900for providing whole menu items in a sidebar 1473 and/or slidesheets.Method 1900 starts in step 1905. Then in step 1910, the sidebar detectsan adjustment to the size of a display area of an application module.

Following step 1910, method 1900 proceeds to step 1915, where theapplication module display area can be increasing or decreasing in size.If the display area is getting larger, method 1900 proceeds down the“larger” path to step 1920. In step 1920, in order to accommodate thelarger display area, the sidebar 1473 will first decrease the displayarea of application modules without items, such as, for example, a photomodule and a notepad module. Then the sidebar 1473 will eliminate wholeitems from other application modules with items. If all otherapplication modules have been decreased to their minimum, the sidebarwill then force application modules into a closed state. Following step1920, method 1900 proceeds to step 1930.

Returning to step 1915, if the display area is decreasing in size,method 1900 proceeds down the “smaller” path to step 1925. In step 1925,the sidebar 1473 first increases the display area of application moduleswithout items. Then the sidebar 1473 adds whole items to otherapplication modules. If there is no more application module informationto display, then the sidebar forces application modules in a closedstate into an open state. If there are no application modules left in aclosed state, then the sidebar can display gray space. Method 1900proceeds to step 1930.

In both steps 1920 and 1925, sidebar 1473 records which modules wereaffected by the user's resizing action and the original state of themodule, so that the sidebar 1473 can restore the affected modules totheir original state as space becomes available.

In step 1930, once the user stops resizing, the sidebar determineswhether the last item in the resized application module display area hasbeen truncated. If the last item has not been truncated, method 1900proceeds to step 1935, where no adjustments are made, and method 1900ends in step 1955.

Returning to step 1930, if the last item in a resized application moduledisplay area has been truncated, method 1900 proceeds to step 1940,where the sidebar determines if more than half of the truncated item isshowing. If more than half of the truncated item is showing, method 1900proceeds to step 1945, where the sidebar increases the size of thedisplay area to include the whole truncated item. Method 1900 ends instep 1955.

Returning to step 1940, if less than half of the truncated item isshowing, method 1900 proceeds to step 1950, where the sidebar decreasesthe size of the display area to eliminate the truncated item. Thethreshold level for adding or eliminating an item is not limited to onehalf of an item and can be any percentage of an item. In one embodiment,an item is eliminated if less than three quarters of the item isshowing. Then method 1900 ends in step 1955.

In one embodiment of the invention, the user can have an emailapplication module in their sidebar 1473. FIG. 20 illustrates method2000, implemented according to one embodiment of the invention, fordisplaying emails through a sidebar 1473. Before the start of method2000, an email module of a sidebar 1473 can default to an email serviceoffered by the sidebar provider. In one embodiment, the email module ofthe sidebar 1473 retrieves a user's unread emails and displays them tothe user.

Method 2000 starts at step 2005. Then in step 2010, the sidebar 1473detects the selection of an email item by a user. Following step 2010,method 2000 proceeds to step 2015, where the sidebar 1473 transmits arequest, for example, to an IMAP server, for the selected email. Then instep 2020, the sidebar receives the selected email.

Some email services are Internet based and users interact with the emailservice through a webpage. The webpage allows the user to access andmanipulate their messages. An application, such as, for example, thesidebar 1473 does not need to access a user's email through a webinterface, since it is a computer and it displays the user's emailmessages in its own format. Thus, in one embodiment, the email retrievalcomputer 1483 may use an email retrieval protocol (ERP), such as, forexample, Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and/or Post OfficeProtocol (POP) to retrieve email messages. Some Internet contentprovider email services use a central message storage computer 1484 tosave their user's email messages, and provided different avenues ofaccess to the email, such as, IMAP, POP, webmail, etc. These servicescan be provided through one or more computers operated by the contentprovider.

In one embodiment, the content provider assigns one or more identifiersto messages stored in its central storage computer 1484. For example, amessage may require more than one identifier since different emailaccess programs use different identifier. In one embodiment, a messageis given an IMAP ID and a web message ID.

In one embodiment, the sidebar 1473 uses IMAP to retrieve messagesthrough an IMAP server 1483. When the sidebar 1473 requests messagesfrom the IMAP server 1483 the IMAP server 1483 connects to the centralstorage computer 1484 to retrieve the requested message. In oneembodiment, the IMAP protocol provides flags that can be used toindicate a state of a message, for example, read, unread, deleted,answered, and other states. Therefore, the sidebar 1473 can use IMAP tocommunicate certain user activities to the central storage computer.Other activates, such as, for example, marking a specific email as spam,use a message's web message ID, which is not part of the standard IMAPprotocol. Therefore, marking emails as spam cannot be accomplished usinga standard IMAP implementation. In known embodiments, IMAP does notinclude a default field for transmitting a web message ID. Thus, in oneembodiment, a field comprising the web message ID is added to anextensible section of the IMAP protocol.

So, when the sidebar 1473 retrieves messages through the IMAP server1483, the web message ID field is used to provide the web message IDsfor retrieved messages. In one embodiment, if a user identifies an emailas spam for the sidebar 1473, the sidebar 1473 can use the web messageID to identify the spam message to the web based email server 1436. Inone embodiment, spam controls may be performed by another computer oranother company.

Strengthening spam controls through a sidebar is one embodiment of theuse of sending additional information through an ERP.

After the sidebar 1473 receives the requested email in step 2020, thesidebar 1473, in step 2025, displays the received email in a slidesheet.The slidesheet can comprise various email options, such as, for example,reply, reply to all, delete, mark as unread and mark as spam.

If the user selects a reply option, method 2000 proceeds to step 2030,where the sidebar displays a slidesheet comprising a field to type areply message and the sender of the email in the “to” field. Then method2000 proceeds to step 2060, where the composed email is sent to theemail server. Then method 2000 ends in step 2075.

Returning to step 2025, if the user selects a reply all option, method2000 proceeds to step 2035, where the sidebar displays a slidesheetcomprising a field to type a reply to all message, and all the addressesin the email in the “to” field. Then method 2000 proceeds to step 2060,where the composed email is sent to the email server. Then method 2000ends in step 2075.

Returning to step 2025, if the user selects a forward option, method2000 proceeds to step 2040, where the sidebar 1473 displays a slidesheetcomprising a field to type a message and a copy of the original email.The slidesheet also comprises a “to” field for the user to enter emailrecipients. Then method 2000 proceeds to step 2060, where a composedemail is sent to the email server. Then method 2000 ends in step 2075.

For the reply, reply to all and forward email options, in oneembodiment, the sidebar 1473 can send a composed message to the emailserver and/or an SMTP server for delivery and the sidebar 1473 can useIMAP to mark an email as answered. In one embodiment, the sidebar canuse IMAP to save a copy of the sent email to a user's “sent mail”folder. In one embodiment, the sidebar 1473 can send a composed messageto an email server for delivery using HTTP. The sidebar can also sendthe email's web message ID, so that the web server knows which email tomark as answered. In one embodiment, the sidebar 1473 can launch theuser's default email application and direct the user to use the fullservice counterpart email application to perform the selected option.

Returning to step 2025, if the user selects the mark as unread option,method 2000 proceeds to step 2045, where the sidebar 1473 transmits amessage to the email server, indicating to the server that the selectedemail should be marked as unread. Following step 2045, method 2000proceeds to step 2065, where the sidebar is updated to display theselected email as unread. This may require adding the email back intothe main sidebar 1473 window and adjusting a counter in the email moduletitlebar. Then method 2000 ends in step 2075.

Returning to step 2025, if the user selects the delete option, method2000 proceeds to step 2050, where the sidebar transmits a message to theemail server, indicating that the selected email should be deleted.Following step 2050, method 2000 proceeds to step 2070, where theselected email is deleted from the sidebar. Then method 2000 ends instep 2075.

Marking an email as unread or deleting an email, in one embodiment, canbe updated using IMAP.

Returning to step 2025, if the user selects the mark as spam option,method 2000 proceeds to step 2055, where the sidebar transmits a messageto the email server, indicating that the selected email should be markedas spam. Following step 2055, method 2000 proceeds to step 2070, wherethe selected email is deleted from the sidebar 1473. Then method 2000ends in step 2075. Since the user's email server receives the spamindication, email identified as spam by the user through the sidebar1473 increases the overall robustness of the user's spam controls. Inone embodiment, as mentioned above, the message to the email servercomprises a web message ID, so that the email server can identify whichmessage was selected as spam by the user. The sidebar 1473 received theweb message ID through a field added to the IMAP protocol.

The sidebar 1473 can also be used to receive updates from communitymembers. FIG. 21 illustrates a method 2100 for receiving communityupdates through a sidebar 1473. Method 2100 starts in step 2105. Then instep 2110, a community service server receives an update from a firstcommunity member. Following step 2110, method 2100 can proceed down pathP1 or P2, depending on how the sidebar 1473 is configured or set up.

If the sidebar 1473 is set up to poll community service servers forupdated information, method 2100 proceeds to step 2145, where thecommunity service server receives a request for updated information froma sidebar 1473. Then in step 2150, the community service servertransmits any updated information to the requesting sidebar 1473. Method2100 ends in step 2155. In one embodiment, the updated information canbe a review of a new movie, for a blast from a social networking friend.

Returning to step 2110, if the sidebar 1473 is set up to receive alerts,method 2100 proceeds to step 2115, where the community service servertransmits an alert to an alert module 1439. In one embodiment, the alertmodule 1439 can be part of an alert server. In one embodiment, the alertmodule 1439 can be part of the sidebar 1473. In one embodiment, thealert module 1473 can be part of another application, such as, forexample, an instant messaging application.

Following step 2115, method 2100 proceeds to step 2120, where the alertmodule determines whether the alert comprises the updated information.If the alert does not comprise updated information, method 2100 proceedsto step 2125. In step 2125, if the alert module is not part of thesidebar 1473, method 2100 proceeds to step 2135, where the alert module1439, whether it is part of an alert server or part of anotherapplication loaded on the user's computer 1450, transmits the alert tothe sidebar 1473. Then method 2100 proceeds to step 2145. Returning tostep 2125, if the alert module is part of the sidebar 1473, then method2100 proceeds directly to step 2145. After step 2145 (described above),method 2100 then proceeds to step 2150 (described above) and ends instep 2155.

Returning to step 2120, if the alert comprises the updated information,for example, receiving a new email would alert the sidebar 1473 to thefact that a new email has been received. Following step 2120, in step2130, if the alert module 1439 is not part of the sidebar 1473, method2100 proceeds to step 2140, where the updated information is transmittedto the sidebar 1473. Then method 2100 ends in step 2155. Returning tostep 2130, if the alert module 1439 is part bf the sidebar 1473, method2100 ends in step 2155.

FIG. 22 illustrates a method 2200 for displaying photos in a slidesheetimplemented according to one embodiment of the invention. Method 2200starts in step 2205. Then, in step 2210, the sidebar 1473 detects arequest from a user to open a photo slidesheet. Following step 2210,method 2200 proceeds to step 2215, where the sidebar 1473 displays aphoto slidesheet. In one embodiment, the photo slidesheet comprises thecurrent photo displayed in the sidebar 1473, one or more photospreviously displayed in the sidebar 1473 and one or more photos thatwill be displayed in the sidebar 1473. In one embodiment, the currentphoto is highlighted in some manner, such as, for example, using aborder and/or changing the brightness of the photo. Method 2200 ends instep 2220.

FIG. 23 illustrates a method 2300 for displaying photos from an Internetphoto sharing service, such as, for example Flickr (a service of Yahoo!,Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.). Depending on the option that a user selects,method 2300 can proceed down a plurality of different paths.

If the user desires to search for new photos, method 2300 proceeds downpath S1 to step 2310, where the sidebar 1473 receives a search term fromthe user. In one embodiment, the search term can be received from asearch field in a photo slidesheet. In one embodiment, the search termcan be received from a search field in a photos options dialog.Following step 2310, method 2300 proceeds to step 2315 where the sidebar1473 transmits the search term to a photo sharing server. A photosharing server receives the search term and retrieves photos associatedwith the search term. Following step 2315, in step 2320, the sidebar1473 receives search results from the photo sharing server. Then in step2325, in one embodiment, the sidebar 1473 displays the search results ina first photo slidesheet. In one embodiment, the search results can bedisplayed in a dialog.

In one embodiment, the user can select one of the search results todisplay a larger version of the selected photo. Thus, in step 2330, thesidebar detects a request from a user to display a particular photo.Following step 2330, in step 2335, the sidebar 1473 displays theselected photo in an item level photo slidesheet. In one embodiment, theitem level photo slidesheet further comprises metadata associated withthe photo. The metadata can comprise a URL location for the photo andany tags that are associated with the photo. Then method 2300 ends instep 2370.

Returning to step 2305, the user can also search for photos through tagsthat are displayed in various slidesheets and display areas of thesidebar 1473. Thus method 2300 proceeds down path S2 to step 2340, wherethe sidebar 1473 detects a tag selection by the user. In one embodiment,the tag selection can be received from a drop down menu in the firstphoto slidesheet. In one embodiment, the tag selection can be receivedfrom a tag listed in the item level photo slidesheet. Following thedetection of a tag selection, method 2300 proceeds to step 2345, wherethe sidebar 1473 transmits a request to a photo sharing server forphotos with the selected tag. Following step 2345, in step 2350, thesidebar 1473 receives photos with the selected tag. Then in step 2355,the received photos are displayed in the first photo slidesheet. In oneembodiment, the photos can be displayed in a dialog. Method 2300 ends instep 2370.

Returning to step 2305, a user can subscribe to a particular tag andthereby add photos with the particular tag to the slideshow in theirsidebar 1473. When a user subscribes to a tag, method 2300 proceeds downpath S3 to step 2360, where the sidebar 1473 detects a subscription tophotos with a particular tag. In one embodiment, a subscription buttoncan be display with search results. Thus, if the user likes the photosin a search result, they can easily add those photos to their slideshow.In step 2365, the photos with the selected tag are added to the user'sphoto slideshow. Method 2300 ends in step 2370.

In one embodiment, the sidebar 1473 can display various types ofinformation, such as, for example, a photo, a video, an article, andother types of information, that the user may want to share with otherpeople. Therefore, the sidebar 1473 can provide sharing buttons when itdisplays shareable media. FIG. 24 illustrates a method 2400 for placingsharing buttons in a slidesheet with shareable media. Method 2400 startsin step 2405. Then in step 2410, the sidebar 1473 determines whether themedia displayed in a slidesheet is shareable. In one embodiment,shareable media is predetermined, and the sidebar 1473 is preprogrammedto add sharing buttons to a predetermined set of slidesheets. In oneembodiment, the sidebar 1473 determines whether the displayed media isshareable, for example, by examining the type of media or the URL forthe media.

If the media is shareable, method 2400 proceeds to step 2415, where theshareable media is displayed with one or more sharing buttons. In oneembodiment, the sharing buttons can comprise an email button, an IMbutton, and a blog button. Following step 2415, method 2400 proceeds tostep 2420, where in response to a user selecting a sharing button, asharing application associated with a sharing button is initiated. Forexample, in one embodiment, when an email button is selected, a defaultemail program for the computer is initiated. In one embodiment, when anIM button is selected, a default IM program is initiated. In oneembodiment, when the blog button is selected, a browser opens to theuser's default blogging service. In one embodiment, the user can set upa default blogging service through the sidebar 1473 options and have themedia automatically added to the user's blog, when the button isselected.

Following step 2420, in step 2425, the shareable media or a link to theshareable media is sent to the sharing application so that the user cansend the shareable media to other people. Then the method 2400 ends instep 2435.

Returning to step 2410, if the media displayed in a slidesheet is notshareable, method 2400 proceeds to step 2430, where the media isdisplayed in a slidesheet without sharing buttons. Some media may havecopyright limitation that would prevent the distribution of the media.Then the method 2400 ends in step 2435.

It will be recognized that while the features and functions describedabove are described in relation to network components and user sidecomponents, such features and functions can be implemented at any pointin the network, on single or multiple computers and/or servers, andnetwork functions can also be duplicated at the user computer forfunctioning independent of the network if desired. Thus user sidechanges and or network side changes can be synchronized and orsynchronized when a user returns to the network in manners known in theart or hereafter to become known.

While the description of the various embodiments of the invention aredescribed in a server/client network environment, alternate embodimentsof the invention can be performed in a peer-to-peer network or otherinterconnectivity schemes now known or hereafter to become known.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodimentsthereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutionsand changes in the form and detail of the disclosed invention may bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only asindicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. A sidebar, obtainable from a content provider, the content provideroffering other plural services to a user, the sidebar comprising: anadvertising module displayed in the sidebar, the advertising modulebeing populated with an advertisement selected from a plurality ofpossible advertisements, the advertisement being selected based in parton user information maintained by the content provider in connectionwith the user, the user information comprising user specific informationrelated to user interactions with one or more of the other pluralservices of the content provider; and computer code, the computer codebeing operable to execute an operation that retrieves the advertisementfrom a service provider location on a network.
 2. The sidebar of claim1, wherein the computer code is operable to receive the advertisement,when a user initiates the sidebar.
 3. The sidebar of claim 1, whereinthe computer code is operable to receive a plurality of advertisements,when a user initiates the sidebar.
 4. The sidebar of claim 1, furthercomprising: information retrieving computer code, the informationretrieving computer code being operable to execute an operation thatretrieves the user information from the content provider; and selectioncomputer code, the selection computer code being operable to execute anoperation that selects an advertisement based in part on the userinformation.
 5. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the content providerselects the advertisement.
 6. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the userspecific information comprises user preference information.
 7. Thesidebar of claim 6, wherein the user preference information is obtainedby the content provider from the user based upon explicit preferenceindications made by the user.
 8. The sidebar of claim 7, wherein theexplicit preference indication is a music preference indication madeduring interaction with a music service of the content provider.
 9. Thesidebar of claim 8, wherein the advertisement is for an album.
 10. Thesidebar of claim 7, wherein the explicit preference indication is aproduct preference indication made during interaction with a shoppingservice of the content provider.
 11. The sidebar of claim 10, whereinthe product preference indication is a purchase of a product by theuser.
 12. The sidebar of claim 10, wherein the advertisement is relatedto a retailer through which the product is available.
 13. The sidebar ofclaim 6, wherein said user preference information is obtained by thecontent provider from the user based upon implicit preferenceindications derived utilizing data collected by the content providerrelated to the user's activities.
 14. The sidebar of claim 1, whereinthe user specific information comprises information related to userinteraction with the sidebar.
 15. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein theuser specific information comprises a search term entered by the userduring interaction with a search service of the content provider. 16.The sidebar of claim 15, wherein the search service is accessed througha browser, the browser being operable to communicate with a searchserver operated by the content provider.
 17. The sidebar of claim 15,wherein the search service is accessed through a search module of thesidebar.
 18. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the user specificinformation comprises a search term frequently searched by the user. 19.The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the user specific information comprisesshared user information.
 20. The sidebar of claim 19, wherein the shareduser information comprises a selection of interests selected by theuser.
 21. The sidebar of claim 1, wherein the information furthercomprises demographic information associated with the user.
 22. Thesidebar of claim 1, wherein the information further comprises userinformation obtain from the user's computer.
 23. The sidebar of claim 1,wherein the user specific information comprises sidebar applicationinformation, the sidebar application information comprising theapplication modules displayed in the sidebar.
 24. A sidebar, obtainablefrom a content provider, the content provider offering other pluralservices to a user, the sidebar comprising: an application moduledisplayed in the sidebar through which a user can access functionsassociated with the application module, the application module beingselected from a plurality of possible application modules, the sidebardisplaying the application module based upon sidebar applicationinformation maintained by the content provider; and a slidesheetassociated with the application module, the slidesheet displaying anadvertisement, selected from a plurality of advertisements, theadvertisement being selected based on the functions associated with theapplication module.
 25. The sidebar of claim 24, wherein theadvertisement displayed in the slidesheet is selected based further onuser information maintained by the content provider.
 26. The sidebar ofclaim 24, further comprising computer code, computer code being operableto execute an operation that facilitates the communication of a selectedadvertisement from the content provider.
 27. A method of advertisingcomprising: selecting an advertisement to be displayed in an advertisingmodule of a sidebar provided by a content provider, the content provideroffering other plural services to a user, the advertisement beingselected from a plurality of possible advertisements based in part onuser information, maintained by the content provider in connection withthe user, the user information comprising user specific informationrelated to user interactions with one or more of the other pluralservices of the content provider; and communicating the advertisement tothe advertising module.
 28. The method of claim 27, further comprisingreceiving a request for an advertisement.
 29. The method of claim 27,wherein the step of selecting the advertisement is performed by thecontent provider.
 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the step ofselecting the advertisement is performed by the sidebar.
 31. The methodof claim 27, wherein the user specific information further comprisesuser preference information.
 32. The method of claim 31, furthercomprising obtaining user preference information based upon explicitpreference indications made by the user.
 33. The method of claim 31,further comprising obtaining user preference information based uponimplicit preference indications made by the user.
 34. A method ofadvertising comprising: selecting an advertisement to be displayed in aslidesheet associated with an application module through which a usercan access functions associated with the application module, theapplication module being displayed in a sidebar, the sidebar provided bya content provider, the content provider offering other plural servicesto the user, the advertisement being selected from a plurality ofpossible advertisements based in part on the functions accessed throughthe application module; and communicating the advertisement to thesidebar.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the advertisement displayedin the slidesheet is selected based further on user informationmaintained by the content provider.
 36. A system for providing anadvertisement to be displayed in a sidebar, the sidebar being obtainablefrom a content provider, the content provider offering other pluralservices to a user, the system comprising: a content provider computer,having a selection application stored thereon, the selection applicationselecting an advertisement to be displayed in an advertising module ofthe sidebar, the advertisement being selected from a plurality ofpossible advertisements based in part on user information, maintained bythe content provider in connection with the user, the user informationcomprising user specific information related to user interactions withone or more of the other plural services of the content provider; and acommunication module for communicating said selected advertisement to auser.
 37. A system for providing an advertisement to be displayed in aslidesheet of an application module displayed in a sidebar, the sidebarbeing obtainable from a content provider, the content provider offeringother plural services to a user, the system comprising: a contentprovider computer, having a selection application stored thereon, theselection application selecting an advertisement to be displayed in aslidesheet associated with an application module through which a usercan access functions associated with the application module, theadvertisement being selected from a plurality of possible advertisementsbased in part on the functions accessed through the application module;and a communication module for communicating said selected advertisementto a user.
 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the content providercomputer further comprises a user database having stored thereon userinformation, and wherein the advertisement displayed in the slidesheetis selected based further on the user information.